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City asks for residents' input on balancing budget

The mayor and several local businesses announced on Monday the launch of Balance Baltimore, an initiative that allows city dwellers to submit an online application with their ideas for balancing the city budget.

The mayor and several local businesses announced on Monday the launch of Balance Baltimore, an initiative that allows city dwellers to submit an online application with their ideas for balancing the city budget.

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Updated: 6:45 PM EST Dec 16, 2013

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WEBVTT FIVE: 30, MORE BUDGET WOES FOR THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REJECTS DEBT FOR THE 2014 FISCAL YEAR. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS TAKING TO THE WEB. TEBOW THEY WILL GIVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN WITH THEIR IDEAS ON WHAT SHOULD STAY AND WHAT SHOULD GO. LOWELL MELSER JOINS US FROM THE NEWSROOM. ARE THEY REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY? IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE. THEY HAVE COME UP WITH THIS WEBSITE, BALANCED BALTIMORE. IT ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO BECOME VIRTUAL CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. THEY CAN GO IN AND LOOK AT TOPIX, ANYTHING FROM EDUCATION TO POLICE, TO HELP SERVICES. IT IS A PROBLEM THE CITY OF BALTIMORE SEEMS TO FIND ITSELF IN YEAR AFTER YEAR. GAPS IN THE CITY BUDGET. THE CITY FINDS ITSELF $20 MILLION IN THE HOLE, BUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THINKS IT HAS A UNIQUE WAY TO AT LEAST GET INPUT ON WHAT SHOULD BE CUT. WE WANT TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM CITIZENS ON WHAT SERVICES SHOULD THE REDUCED AND WHAT NEW INVESTMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO KEEP OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD. LAKE -- MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE ANNOUNCED BALANCED BALTIMORE. INSTEAD OF CUTTING EVERY PROGRAM, MY ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH, BY LISTENING TO WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANTED. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A GAME. YOU START WITH $20 MILLION AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE. RESIDENTS CLICK THROUGH SIX AREAS OF THE BUDGET UNTIL YOU ALL FULLY END UP AT ZERO. HOPEFULLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CUT. IT'S A PROBLEM. YES, IT IS A PROBLEM. MANY SMALL-BUSINESS OWNERS HAD IDEAS ON WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM. REPAIRING POTHOLES. PARKING. MY CONCERN WOULD BE EDUCATION AND CRIME. MAKING SURE THAT THOSE TWO AREAS FOR THIS CITY ARE FUNDED. SIMILAR WEBSITES HAVE BEEN TRIED IN OTHER CITIES WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SUCCESS. WHETHER IT WORKS IN BALTIMORE IS ANY ONE'S GUESS. I WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE. I JUST WONDER IF IT WOULD IMPLEMENT IT OR IF IT IS JUST ANOTHER WASTE OF MONEY OR WAY TO ACT LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING. FOR DISSIPATION IN THE WEBSITE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY. -- PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBSITE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF

City asks for residents' input on balancing budget

The mayor and several local businesses announced on Monday the launch of Balance Baltimore, an initiative that allows city dwellers to submit an online application with their ideas for balancing the city budget.